Radiation Chemistry of Simulated (99)Mo Product

PharrnaceuticaI houses that produce {sup 99}Tc/{sup 99}Tc generators have on occasion received {sup 99}Mo that contained a black precipitate. Addition of sodium hypochlorite to product bottles prior to shipment prevents precipitate formation, indicating the precipitate is a reduced form of Mo. The radiation effects of the dose from {sup 99}Mo on the product and product bottle have been determined by irradiating simulated {sup 99}Mo product solutions with the {sup 60}Co source at Sandia National Laboratories' Gamma Irradiation Facility (GE). The GIF experiment successfully generated a black precipitate in amounts sufficient for isolation and analysis by infrared and Rrunan spectroscopy. Changes in the pH of the basic {sup 99}Mo product solution during irradiation were monitored by titration. ResuIts of these analyses and the nature of the process that generates the precipitate, a mixture of molybdenum oxides that forms in plastic bottles, but not in glass containers, are discussed.